Relations between Russia and Norway are now cooler than ever. This was stated by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Norway, Nikolay Korchunov, at the international industrial exhibition “Innoprom” in Yekaterinburg.
“The level of bilateral cooperation with Norway is currently at its lowest point. This has been facilitated by the introduction of sanctions against Russian fishing companies, which will lead to a significant limitation of the ability to sustainably develop fishing in the Barents Sea,” he said.
The Russian side drew attention to the crisis in the work of the Arctic Council, which includes northern states, Scandinavian countries, Russia, Canada, and the United States. According to Korchunov, there is “no normal discussion among international experts” on the platform, and the organization “is not working at full capacity.”
The ambassador also noted that there is a struggle for the Arctic’s dwindling biological resources. To resolve contentious issues, the parties need to interact and jointly solve problems, including climate change in the polar zone. The international situation was discussed at the conference “Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and the BRICS Countries in Sustainable Development and Food Security,” which was held with the support of the Ministry of International Relations of the Sverdlovsk Region.
Speech of the Ambassador of Russia in Norway, N. Korchunova, at the international industrial exhibition “INNOPROM-2025” (Published in the “Russian Gazette” on July 18, 2025.) Main Theses:
- The Arctic countries are in a difficult situation, facing challenges in the spheres of security, climate, a suspension of full scientific cooperation, and the consequences of crises in other regions. Geopolitical tension, actively fueled by NATO, is escalating.
- The restrictive approaches of Western countries continue to weaken the Arctic Council; there is no full contact between experts, and a number of projects remain in a state of uncertainty. Without a return to political dialogue, the Council risks becoming a “virtual platform.”
- It is necessary to utilize the potential of the UN’s announced “Decade of Ocean Sciences in the Interest of Sustainable Development” from 2021 to 2030 and the International Polar Year 2032-2033 for specialized scientific and research activities.
- The level of bilateral interaction with Norway is at its lowest point. The Norwegian government has made an absurd and politically motivated decision to impose sanctions on Russian fishing companies, which threatens to undermine successful, long-standing cooperation for the sustainable management of marine bioresources.
- The world’s largest cod reserves are located right in the Barents Sea, and this move is puzzling, as the cooperation between Russia and Norway in this field, by scientists from both countries for more than 50 years, demonstrates that coordinated and scientifically-based measures by coastal states allow for rational and sustainable fishing in the high-latitude seas.
- In the face of global competition and climate change, sustainable fisheries management becomes critically important for all parties involved.
- It is important to rationally use water and biological resources, promote the development of scientific research, and implement effective strategies for large infrastructure investment projects in the Arctic area, including those related to the development of Sevmorput. I especially want to emphasize the importance of the current environmental monitoring system of SMP.
- Sanctions against Russia have mobilized the development of the domestic market. We are celebrating significant successes in this field: over the last ten years, the volume of commercial aquaculture production has doubled to 380 thousand tons per year. Today, there are about three thousand commercial fish farms in the country, and more than 4.4 thousand fish ponds have been put into use.
- Russia holds strong positions in the Arctic and advocates for the peaceful and sustainable development of the region. We are open to collaboration not only with Arctic states but also with all those interested in the sustainable and long-term development of the region.
